Police Respond to Threat at Tallahassee Airport

The interruption of service at the Tallahassee Regional Airport was due to the threat of explosive devices. An unknown male caller reported two ‘bombs’ had been left on the premises, one inside the terminal and one in the parking lot. The Tallahassee Police Department along with members of the Big Bend Regional Bomb Squad partnered to sweep the entire premises and determined the area to be deemed safe. The airport returned to normal operations after the protective sweeps.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case is asked to please contact the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200.

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[UPDATE 10:46PM]

At 6:12 p.m. this evening, the Tallahassee Regional Airport received a call from a male who made unspecified threats related to the airport property.

Following established protocols, the Tallahassee Police Department officers assigned to the airport began securing the facilities.

Additional police officers immediately responded to the scene. A suspicious bag was found unclaimed near the front of the terminal, which was later claimed by a passenger.

The caller had alluded to a threat in the parking lot and specific areas of the terminal and passengers and guests in the airport were moved to safe locations.

Approximately 300 passengers and guests were in the terminal. At this point, the impact on flights appears to be that some passengers were not able to reach the US Airways flight to Charlotte which departed around 8 p.m.

Inbound flights were able to land with passengers held in the airside portion of the terminal, furthest away from the potential threat.

As of 9:30 p.m. all passengers in the airport were released and allowed to leave the terminal and operations returned to normal.

"We always take any type of threat to people and their safety very seriously," said Jim Durwin, Assistant Superintendent of Airport Operations.

"The passengers and guests at the airport were all incredibly understanding and appreciated the fact that we were focused on their safety."

The Tallahassee Police Department is continuing its investigation.

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[UPDATE 10:43PM]

The actual number of passengers in the airport was approximately 300 not 100

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[UPDATE 10:18pm]

At 6:12 p.m. this evening, the Tallahassee Regional Airport received a call from a male who made unspecified threats related to the airport property.

Following established protocols, the Tallahassee Police Department officers assigned to the airport began securing the facilities.

Additional police officers immediately responded to the scene. A suspicious bag was found unclaimed near the front of the terminal, which was later claimed by a passenger.

The caller had alluded to a threat in the parking lot and specific areas of the terminal and passengers and guests in the airport were moved to safe locations.

Approximately 100 passengers and guests were in the terminal. At this point, the impact on flights appears to be that some passengers were not able to reach the USAirways flight to Charlotte which departed around 8 p.m.

Inbound flights were able to land with passengers held in the air side portion of the terminal, furthest away from the potential threat.

As of 9:30 p.m. all passengers in the airport were released and allowed to leave the terminal and operations returned to normal.

"We always take any type of threat to people and their safety very seriously," said Jim Durwin, Assistant Superintendent of Airport Operations. "The passengers and guests at the airport were all incredibly understanding and appreciated the fact that we were focused on their safety."

The Police Department is continuing its investigation.

______________________________________________________[UPDATE 9:14PM]

Tallahassee police confirm an unidentified male called the Tallahassee Airport and made 'unspecified threats.'

They have closed off entrance to the airport to investigate the claim. They were not able to specify what time the threat was made.

No one has been allowed in or out of the airport, but officials say they are working on transportation to get people out of the airport to their rides. As of right now, dozens of people are waiting in the parking lot of the old airport for their relatives and friends to come out.

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The Tallahassee Police Department is currently on scene at the Tallahassee Regional Airport. Multiple police cars have the entrance to the airport blocked off, and we're waiting to be briefed with more information. Several people who came to pick up friends and family say no one is being allowed out of the airport at this time. We do have a reporter on the scene and we'll have more information as it becomes available.

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